Learn how to cook perfect steak in air fryer at all times. This air fryer steak is crispy on the outside, perfectly tender and juicy on the inside, foolproof and flavourful.
A perfect recipe for a date night or a busy weeknight, serve with garlic mashed potatoes, homemade oven chips or salad. This is about to be another of your favourites!
Steak air fryer
Do you know you can make juicy steak in your air fryer? Oh yes, you can and it is pretty easy too just like every other air fryer recipes. This air fried steak is straightforward to make and does not need any marinate.
This is a 3-step recipe, season the steak as desired, cook in the air fryer for a few minutes, flip, and cook for a few more minutes. Rest and serve, see how simple it is. You can use any type of steak of your choice in the air fryer. I am using rump steak today from Aldi.
No need to fire the grill or heat up the whole kitchen from the oven heat. I must say that air fryer is one gadget you need in your kitchen. I use Cosori XXL 5.5L (affiliate link). Please note that your brand of air fryer and the thickness of the steak may affect how long it cooks.
Related recipes: air fryer turkey steaks and air fryer steak bites.
Tips for cooking steak in air fryer perfectly at all times.
Let the steak come to room temperature like an hour before cooking
Season the beef with salt and pepper few minutes before cooking preferably when you bring out the steak from the fridge. This way the flavour absorbs well into the steak and it also help remove excess moisture from the meat.
Make sure to preheat the air fryer before cooking the steak, it is important to start off cooking steak on high heat. In this case, the hot air fryer basket would do the job.
Whilst adding oil to the steak, make sure it is not wet before doing so. Pat the steak dry with a kitchen towel to remove any excess moisture.
Air fryer steak doesn’t require any excess seasoning of spices and herbs. Salt, freshly ground black pepper, oil and garlic butter is more than enough for a deliciously tasting steak. I love to serve it with my version of gremolata (recipe coming soon)
Avoid cooking thick cut of steak (from 2.5cm above) in the air fryer except you want it rear. Cooking it for longer in the air fryer would dry it out and may also result in the steak being overcooked and thus, making it hard to chew.
Rest the steak for at least 5 minutes so that the steak can suck up its own juice.
Your preference for doneness would determine how long you will cook it for.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket or let the steak overlap.
Ingredients
Steak: I used rump steak but you can use any type of choice. Other choices include ribeye, Sirloin, New York or any other type you have.
Sea salt: I used sea salt flakes but I love using pink Himalayan salt, I don't recommend using table salt for this recipe.
Freshly cracked black pepper
Vegetable oil
Garlic butter ingredient
Butter
Chives
Parsley
Garlic
How to make garlic butter
Add the softened butter, chopped garlic, parsley, and chive to a plate or a bowl and mix to combine. Transfer the mixed butter to a clingfilm and roll into a log. Place the compound butter in the fridge and use it on top of the steak when it is ready.
How to cook steak in the air fryer
Preheat the air fryer at 200C/400F for 10 minutes
Prepare the steak, make sure it has come to room temperature before cooking. Pat dry to remove excess moisture, season the steak generously with salt and pepper then rub oil on both sides of the steak.
Place the steak in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the desired doneness is achieved. Flip the steak halfway through cooking.
Remove the steak to a plate, top with garlic butter, cover with tin foil and rest for at least 5 minutes. Serve with other sides of choice and enjoy!
Internal temperature of cooked steak in the air fryer
The best way to check for the doneness of steak or any other cooked meat is by using an instant meat thermometer.
It is safe to bring out the meat from the air fryer about 10 degrees less than the specified temperature. It will continue to cook to your desired doneness as it rests.
Rare: 120F/48C
Medium rare: 130F/54C
Medium: 140F/60C
Medium-well done: 150F/65C
Well done: 160F/70C
This Nigerian girl loves her steak well done, (ain’t no blood or pink liquid on my plate!) In fact, very well done too but not to a point that is tough and chewy.
In Nigeria, we mostly boil meat then grill or fried before eating. 10 minutes at 200C/400F cooked the steak perfectly to my desired doneness. Remember, to adjust cooking time to suit your needs.
Can you cook a steak in an air fryer
Yes, you can cook any type of steak in an air fryer, in fact, you can also cook frozen steak in an air fryer and it is pretty easy to do as well. Just season the steak as would normally and cook in a preheated air fryer at 200C/400F to your desired doneness.
How long to cook steak in air fryer
This will solely depend on the thickness of the steak and your desired doneness. If cooked at 400F/200C then you can estimate about 10 minutes for rare, 12 minutes for medium-rare, and 14-15 minutes for a well-done steak. Remember to flip it halfway through the cooking time for even cooking.
Please note that not all air fryer brands are made equal, the temperature output will be different from one another.
More delicious and easy air fryer recipes
How to cook chicken breast in air fryer
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How To Cook Steak In Air Fryer
Equipment
- Meat thermometer
Ingredients
- 2 rump steak about 1-inch thick/2.5 cm 225g each
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Garlic butter ingredients
- 60 g butter
- 1 tablespoon chives chopped
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
- 2 large garlic chopped
Instructions
How to make garlic butter
- Add the softened butter, chopped garlic, parsley and chive to a plate or a bowl and mix to combine. Transfer the mixed butter to a clingfilm and roll into a log. Place the compound butter in the fridge and use on top of the steak when it is ready.
Cook the steaks
- Preheat the air fryer at 200C/400F for 10 minutes or 205C/420 for 6 minutes
- Prepare the steak, make sure it has come to room temperature before cooking. Pat dry to remove excess moisture, season the steak generously with salt and pepper then rub oil on both sides of the steak.
- Rub some oil on the air fryer basket, this is optional but I do it for good measure. Place the steak in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the desired doneness is achieved. Flip the steak halfway through cooking.Note: use a meat thermometer to check for the doneness on the steak
- Remove the steak to a plate, top with garlic butter, cover with tin foil and rest for at least 5 minutes. Serve with other sides of choice and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
Jason says
Perfect, medium rare 4mins each side... Thanks
Sammy says
hi Ajoke, just got an airfryer for my birthday, Never used one before and the first thing I cooked in it was your steak recipe! My steaks came out perfectly on my 1st try - all thanks to your excellent instructions and the videos are excellent - Ke leboga kudu!
I cant wait to do more stuff in my airfryer & going to try your recipes
Pam says
excellent
Elizabeth says
I have a new instant vortex airfryer and looking for recipees. This one has turned out to be excellent.Thank you very much!
Ajoke says
Hello Elizabeth, I am glad your steak turned out great, thanks for the feedback.